HAJI MOHD. MOHSIN inherited vast expanse of land and was a renowned
zamindar. By a deed dated 20.04.1806 he created a trust (now Wakf)
of all his lands for social and religious purposes. These lands cover
enormous area in prime locations of Calcutta and district of Hooghly (40
Kms from Calcutta).

The
clock on the tower is a replica of “The Big Ben” and in
itself is antique and priceless ,Chandeliers in the Imambarah have been
given by several rulers, including Tipu Sultan, and need protection ,The
record room of the Imambarah also holds very valuable manuscripts

1.The imambara was made around 1806 by Haji Mohammad Mohsin

2.
The Properties of the Haji Mohammed Mohsin who was bachelor and
he had vast numbers of properties.

3.
His half sister Manu Jaan Khanam was the daughter of Aga Mutahar
a Zamindar in Bengal with vast Jagir in the time of Aurangzeb. The
properties of Aga Mutahar included the Maujas of Khidderpore, Rajarampur,
Daulatpur, Sonai and Benodepur and very vast areas in Jessore and Khulna
now in Bangladesh.

4.
Manu Jaan Khanam died issueless and all her properties devolve on
Haji Mohammed Mohsin.

5.
That Haji Mohammed Mohsin on his death in 1813 left vast
properties including Pargana magura Comprising of Mouza Kidderpore,
Sonai, Rajarampur and Benodepur of Touzi No. 92 district 24 Parganas
recorded in the General register, part-1 of the Revenue paying lands
under section 6 & 8 of Act VII of 1863 was included in the said List of
Kharij Twoleat Properties.

6.
That due to the indifferent unmindful inattentive attitude of the
community and lack of determination, co-ordination, organization and
willingness to defend the Properties of the Hooghly Imambara, with
the passage of time outsiders have encroached trespassers tried to
remove all papers of the properties of the Hooghly Imambara.

7. That at a conservative estimate the values of the properties of
the Hooghly Imambara will be not less than Rs. 10000/- crores in landed
properties.

Apart from landed properties the respectable Haji had dedicated and set
apart many religious articles (particularly Panjas used in Alams
and taboots). There is a list of these articles which is mind-boggling.
These panjas (hands) are made of gold or silver and the weights are also
indicated. They are studded with rubies/precious stones. The list is
kept in the office of the Bengal Treasury which also has security (??)
over these religious ornaments/artefacts. These were, on earlier
religious occasions taken out in the Muhassam processions but not in the
last 50 years. One wonders if they are actually safely kept and an
inventory to re-check is definitely required.

All
of these properties are under the Religious Endowment Act and not
under Wakf Act Hence, as per law, its management was not under
the Govt. of Bengal }However,
it was handed over to Wakf Board by the Committee of Management in
2002 .As a result, it is now controlled by the Wakf Board .}It
is being used for the benefit of the Wakf Board

The lands so dedicated have been the object of misuse by the various
trustees who have only furthered their personal gains. To regain these
properties is a mammoth task and involves litigation. Unfortunately the
present management is doing what their predecessors had done and are not
protecting the interests of the Imambara Estate or the Welfare of the
Shia Community. It is an uphill task and involves a gigantic effort.
This is no short term remedy.

The philanthrophic Haji also built a school and college.
The college bears his name and is an esteemed institution. The first
person from India to become a judge in the Privy Council at London
(Justice Amir Ali) studied from college (HAJI MOHSIN COLLEGE) and also
stayed in the IMAMBARA premises at HOOGHLY. He was a Shia Isnashari and
had written many books. A huge fund lies kept with the Govt. of Bengal
known as the HAJI MOHSIN ENDOWMENT FUND. The laws of India allow
minority communities to set up and run educational institutions for
their benefit (50% quota). However not a single Shia has benefitted from
this FUND and the Govt. is trying to portray that it is not meant
mainly/primarily for Shias. If properly pursued a large number of Shia
children can benefit from this huge fund kept with the Govt. of Bengal
as also get direct admission into the Haji Mohsin College on the
basis of the minority quota..

The
building is under repair by Govt under heritage & This is complicated &
has legal implications as well

THERE is
NO Board to explain to Tourists to explain about the Imambargah. A board is to be placed in the premises informing about
Imam Hussain (as) Kerbala on the lines of lucknow board
in English & Bengali as below

This is an “ Imam Bargah” - a centre for mourning
and sorrow established for commemoration of the supreme sacrifice of
IMAM HUSSAIN (A.S.), the son of Imam Ali (A.S.) and Bibi Sayedah Fatima
(S.A.S.), and the grandson of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (be peace upon
them), that was made by him on 10th Moharrum 61 A.H.[10 Oct 680 A.D.],
at KARBALA in present day Iraq.

Late Haji Mohammad Mohsin Isphahani endowed his entire
property in the year 1806 from the funds of which the HOOGHLY Imambargah
was constructed in the year 1840.

Imam Hussain (A.S.) and 72 members of his family and
friends sacrificed EVERYTHING they had to uphold truth and justice. The
objective was to preserve and protect the pure teachings of Islam as
expounded by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (be peace upon him and his Holy
Progeny), to awaken the human spirit and protect humanity from
indignation and deprivation at the hands of oppressive and corrupt
rulers.

The epic struggle of this small band before the huge
forces assembled by the tyrant ruler Yazid son of Muwaviah involved men
and women of all age groups covering all human relationships at IMAM
HUSSAIN'S (A.S.) side .

All
of them were denied access to food and water for 3 days. They included
IMAM HUSSAIN's (A.S.)
6 month old son ‘Ali Asghar (A.S.)’,
whose neck was severed with an arrow and was killed thirsty in his
father's arms..The martyrs heads were severed from their bodies and put
up on spears, their bodies trampled and left unburied. while their women
and children were taken captive and shamefully paraded on a long and
treacherous journey to Yazid's court at Damascus

14 centuries later Imam Hussain's (A.S.) sacrifice
remains alive in the hearts of millions of his followers [the Shias] and
his admirers. Commemoration for his martyrdom continues to this day in
different parts of the world by many not limited to Muslims..

Imam
Hussain 's (A.S.)
life and martyrdom demonstrate a complete role model for all of humanity
to emulate converging in his personal excellence in every noble human
quality especially knowledge, leadership, patience and total submission
to the will of Allah (S.W.T.).

There
are > 150 students in the hawza running at Hoogly by
Al Imaan /Najafi House .There
have been some legal incidents in the recent past but have been temporarly resolved by intervention of Najafi house

Moulana
Mohsin Raza 0091-9831542924

Hawza
Ilmia AhlulbaytImambazar Road

Post &
Dist Hooghly PIN 712103West BengalIndia

033-2680-2944

Presently
the studying rooms & the sleeping bends are the SAME as they have
no space & the trustees need to be
pressured to release the other rooms The Trustees/mutawalis also
have to be convinced /coaxedto permit use of the other vacant & locked
rooms Any legal proceedings to replace also possible NO Majlis
is held & in muharram it would be appropriate if majlis can take place